One of the pedestrian plazas carved out of Broadway in Times Square. Credit: New York City
Remember earlier this year when New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg did the unthinkable and closed down parts of Broadway in Times Square and Herald Square and converted them into pedestrian plazas? He made the changes permanent on Thursday, reports the New York Times. Broadway cuts diagonally across the city and the hope was that traffic would be improved on area streets. As it turns out, there were some improvements, but nothing epic. But pedestrian and motorist injuries have decreased, a majority of area retailers like the plazas and walking traffic in both squares has risen. The above video was produced by New York City to explain the program and here’s the link to more info on the program on Bloomberg’s website. I like the program for no other reason than it was bold and initially politically unpopular.
Another good story in the NYT: What’s the best way to pacify unruly teens on long rides on a school bus? Install wi-fi and the noise of rowdy teenagers rolling through the far suburbs of Tucson is replaced by the gentle tapping of keyboards. Yes, the students may be shooting online zombies with machine guns, but at least they’re not punching the seat in front of them.
Although not directly related to traffic, NYT columnist Timothy Egan visits the emptying exurbs far outside the San Francisco metro area — he calls them slumburbia — and comes to two conclusions: 1) With California’s tax system broken, suburban spawl was encouraged by desperate cities chasing tax dollars and allowing rampant development, and; 2) West Coast cities with stricter land-use rules have fared much better in the recession.
The rest of today’s transportation headlines, from the Metro library, await you after the jump.
Anatomy Of A Bikeway: L.A.’s Abandoned Class 1 Bike Path
Biking In LA
Bad Traffic Not Exclusive To L.A. Freeways
USC Daily Trojan
The Bicycle Grief: In The Quest For Bike-Friendly Cities, Are Snobby Cyclists Their Own Worst Enemies?
American Prospect
Bipartisan Senate Jobs Bill Has Highway Trust Fund Rescue But No TIGER
DC StreetsBlog
DOT A Leader In OpenGov (initiative lays out the Administration’s view of what transparent, collaborative, and participatory government will look like when it’s pushed out to the departments. Users are encouraged to submit ideas on ways to improve USDOT and vote on their favorites)
U.S. DOT Fast Lane Blog
Open DOT: Share Your Ideas
Electric Bikes Face Long Road In U.S.
USA Today
Expo Light Rail Project Moves Down The Line After Construction Authority OKs EIR
Argonaut
Governor’s Plan Would Shield Projects From Lawsuit
Palm Springs Desert Sun
Korea Eyes $45 Billion Train Deal In US (California high-speed rail)
Korea Times
LA Sheriffs Get High-Tech Screening Vessel, Helicopter For Port Security
Southern California Public Radio
Long Beach On The Path To Becoming A Top “Bike Friendly” City
Travelin’ Local
Midtown Pedestrian Mall Gets Green Light (New York’s Times Square and Herald Square traffic projects to become permanent as Mayor Michael Bloomberg cites increased safety and public acceptance)
Crain’s New York Business
New Campaign Aims To Keep People Off The Tracks
San Francisco Chronicle
Common Sense, Use It (railroad safety tips)
OCTA Approves Study Of 405 Widening Project
Daily Pilot
Opinion: Slumburbia
New York Times
Street Extensions Could Ease Traffic In East Pasadena, Officials Say
Pasadena Star-News
Supervisor Won’t Drop His Call For MTA Audit: Ridley-Thomas Going It Alone On Request
Los Angeles Daily News
Underground Inspiration (The winner of the SHIFTboston Ideas Competition is a proposal to turn the unused Tremont Street Subway tunnel under Boston Common into a network of underground cultural venues)
Metropolis
Map, Layout, And More Information
Vancouver: An Olympic Urbanist Preview
Human Transit
Who’s Dependent On Cars? Try Mass Transit
New Geography
Wi-Fi Turns Rowdy Bus Into Rolling Study Hall
New York Times
Women, Transit, And The Perception Of Safety (interview with UCLA professor of urban planning Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris, author of a study of 120 Los Angeles bus stops, environmental attributes, and crime who urges planners to incorporate women’s voices into planning processes)
Planetizen
Wrap-Up: Bruins For Traffic Relief Party
Be A Green Commuter
Categories: Transportation News